You can hear it in her voice. The sound of a life well-lived observing the melancholy and joy of others, and Becky Schlegel makes sure every drop of emotion generated from her experience is heard in every song she sings. Born in Kimball, South Dakota, her family surrounded her with more than a little musical inspiration. Becky learned to play the piano starting at the age of 5. She continued developing her musical talents for the next 13 years playing at various VFW posts and American Legion halls by playing with her mother's band, the Country Benders. After high school, Becky kept playing keyboards for the Mountain Music Show in the Black Hills of South Dakota seven nights a week. On top of all that, she managed to record and produce 2 projects of her own. This enabled her to sell her developing fan base CDs.

Becky's family has a ranch. But with her music career there was little time left to devote to learning the family trade. She says, "I couldn't plow a field if my life depended on it. But, I did learn a lot from all of those shows with The Country Benders. When you learn to read your audience " to really look at their faces and see their emotions " I think it helps you become a better performer."

The year 1993 found Becky moving to Minnesota to college. At this point she decided she needed to learn how to play the guitar. Of this change she says, "It was a lot easier to carry to gigs."

The amount of bluegrass/Americana talent in Minnesota, at that time, was very big. With that large base of talent to draw from, Becky put together her first bluegrass band, True Blue. This fine collection of pickers recorded and released one year later a CD entitled, "This Lonesome Song". In 1998, this song was nominated by the Minnesota Music Academy as the Bluegrass Recording of the Year. The band's popularity continued to grow throughout 1999; they showcased at the International Bluegrass Music Association's annual trade show and appeared on Garrison Keillor's NPR show, A Prairie Home Companion. In 2000, the Minnesota Music Academy named Becky Schlegel and True Blue Bluegrass/Old-Time Group of the Year; in 2001, Becky took home the MMA's Bluegrass/Old-Time Artist of the Year award.

In 2002, Becky stepped out on her own. She recorded her first solo CD, Red Leaf.Each of the 11 tracks on Red Leaf were originals. They were also seen as being closer to Americana than bluegrass. Of this Becky says, "I feel that it's a beautiful & timeless project. I was fortunate enough to have some incredible players join me on this album" Peter Ostroushko, Marc Anderson and Gordon Johnson among them." The album received critical acclaim, and the title track was named 2002's Music City Minnesota Song of the Year by the Minnesota Music Festival.

Also that year, the Minnesota Music Academy voted Schlegel Bluegrass/Old-Time Artist of the Year, and named RED LEAF the year's best Bluegrass/Old-Time Recording. In 2003, Becky was again voted Bluegrass/Old-Time Artist of the Year by the MMA.The following year, she was named the organization's Bluegrass Group/Artist of the Year.Additional honors include performances at the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IBMA) Songwriters' Showcase in both 2003 and 2005.After RED LEAF Becky's career picked up steam. But Becky's personal life picked up steam as well when she married her friend, and True Blue banjo player, Heath Loy in 2003. Becky's home is now filled with music and the active doings of her sons, Tucker, 3, and Ivan, 18 months. "Being a mother is even better than I expected," Becky says. "And it's certainly exciting to see things through the eyes of a child again!"Becky continued to learn and grow professionally as well during this time. Her songwriting continued to flourish, and she found a new vocal freedom in the complex, yet relaxed structure of her own creations. Becky returned to Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion several times over the years, and also became a frequent guest on the RFD TV Network's Midwest Country Theater. She released her second solo CD of originals, DRIFTER LIKE ME, in 2005 and it quickly became a favorite of fans " and music critics alike. Voted one of the Top 10 Best Albums of 2005 by the Star Tribune, the project marked her first musical effort with acclaimed banjo player and guitarist, Brian Fesler. "Brian has been so good for me," Becky says. "We worked so well together on DRIFTER that when it came time to record the new CD, it just seemed natural for us to tackle it as a team."

One of the best sounding results of this teamwork is the CD, "For All The World To See". Throughout the 11 original songs on this CD you hear a rich, melodic sound that touches the common experiences we all have. The carefully crafted tunes on this album feature the judicious placement of Fesler's banjo, Marc Anderson's percussion, Bo Ramsey's electric guitar, Gordon Johnson's bass, Jeff Midkiff's mandolin, and Schlegel's singing and writing make this album a perfect jewel. "Before we recorded these songs," Schlegel explains, "We took a step back and asked what the song wanted , not what we wanted for the song."

Becky thinks this approach led to musical accompaniment that is rich, yet sparse enough to leave "space" for Becky's breathtaking vocal nuances. This also gives the listener the chance to to explore what there is to see in her songs. She says, "The feedback has been touching. I've performed these songs and watched people cry."

Even though she says she likes sad songs, the CD, "For All The World To See", is a truly affecting and heartwarming collection of tunes that find your soul. Becky says, "I don't know if it's just the act of confronting heartache or sadness straight-on. But folks tell me that these songs help them feel better."

While there isn't a dud in the bunch when it comes to songs on this album, Becky does have a favorite. About the song, "Lonely," she says, This approach led to musical accompaniment that is rich, yet sparse enough to leave "space" for Becky's breathtaking vocal nuances " and for the listener to explore the meaning of her songs. "The feedback has been touching," says Schlegel. "I've performed these songs and watched people cry." While drawn to what she refers to as "sad songs," FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE is a surprisingly uplifting and emotionally-liberating album. "I don't know if it's just the act of confronting heartache or sadness straight-on," says Becky, "But folks tell me that these songs help them feel better." Highlights abound, and include the title track, "Bound For Tennessee," "Why Maybe," and "Lonely." "'Lonely' is a probably my favorite song on this album," she admits. "I was really struggling, because I hadn't written in a while, and that night I was holding my guitar and the words just poured out onto the page." The up-tempo "99%" drives with the fire of determination, while "Hills Of South Dakota" resonates with bittersweet memories of a summer that will never be forgotten."

The album, "For All The World To See", is a lush musical trip down home, and the artist Becky Schlegel lets you experience the color of this Americana panorama.